Clifton authorizes overtime to fund third permanent ambulance

This recording of a live video broadcast by NorthJersey.com shows portions of the famous and historic Marcal Paper Products building complex burning down on Jan. 30, 2019.
Michael V. Pettigano and Paul Wood Jr., North Jersey Record

In recent years the city has been awarded two Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grants totaling more than $2.1 million that helped add about 15 firefighters to the department.

The grants were to be used, in part, to get the third ambulance in the rotation.

The use of overtime personnel to staff the ambulance is expected to be a temporary solution until five new firefighters are added to the roster of 143 in March.

The newest hires completed training in December and are working on their emergency medical training, acting Fire Chief Frank Prezioso said.

The third ambulance will bring the required number of firefighters who must be on duty per shift to 28. A typical shift consists of seven engines, each staffed with three firefighters; one deputy chief; and two medical technicians per ambulance, Prezioso said.

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Ambulances are dispatched from Station 6 on Van Houten Avenue, Station 3 on Mahar Avenue and Station 4 on Main Avenue. Typically the Fire Department responds to about 12,000 calls per year, the chief said. He did not have information on how many of those are for emergency medical technicians.

Gibson said once the third permanent ambulance is in place, the city needs to work on getting a fourth one that would operate out of Station 5 on Brighton Road.

Email: fagan@northjersey.com

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